A spokesman for the former freedom fighters occupying Chikore Farm, who refused to be named for fear of victimization, said they would not vacate the property which they grabbed from a former white owner only identified as Mr Buchan.
“While it is taboo to celebrate one’s death, we did celebrate because the former minister had given us a torrid time,” said the spokesman. “We were being harassed every day by state security agents who wanted to know why we were not moving out of the minister’s farm.”
“When we were fighting the former white owner, Minister Mudenge was very supportive. He used to bring us food and other things but after chasing away the former white owner Mudenge then changed the goal posts and claimed that the farm belonged to him.”
The settlers at Chikore farm were last year arrested and convicted of invading gazette land. Early this year Masvingo magistrate Oliver Mudzongachiso convicted the settlers of illegally staying on the minister’s farm. The magistrate ruled that the settlers should leave the property to pave the way for Mudenge.
However, the settlers’ lawyer, Matin Mureri of Matutu Kwirira and Associates legal firm, told The Zimbabwean that the settlers were still on the property.
Mureri said because he had appealed to the high court against both the conviction and the sentence, therefore the settlers had the right to remain on the farm.
Mudenge died in a hotel room on October 4 in Masvingo minutes before he was supposed to officiate at a function. He was declared a national Hero and buried at the country’s national Heroes Acre.
Post published in: News